KEY 2026: Europe’s Hub for Energy Innovation and the Green Transition

From March 4 to 6, 2026, KEY 2026 – The Energy Transition Expo will transform Rimini Exhibition Park into a hub for sustainable energy, innovation, and decarbonization, connecting experts from Europe, Africa, and the Mediterranean.

The program emphasizes finance as a strategic driver of the green transition, featuring Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs), dedicated funds, green bonds, and participatory models among businesses, citizens, and local authorities to support renewable energy investments, energy efficiency, and risk mitigation.

The ForumTech by ITALIA SOLARE will offer an entire day of in-depth discussions on digitalization, smart energy management, predictive maintenance, and integration with advanced storage systems in the photovoltaic sector.

For the first time, KEY 2026 will present a comprehensive report on energy sustainability in the construction sector, prepared in collaboration with FEDERCOSTRUZIONI.

Innovation remains at the core of KEY 2026, with a focus on AI and IoT applications in energy, predictive facility management, decarbonizing the built environment, and next-generation technologies for renewable energy and storage, including photovoltaics, wind, and hydro. Discussions will also address community acceptance, environmental integration, and investment unlocking strategies.

The expo highlights ports as central hubs in the green transition, examines the role of smart cities and energy efficiency, including public building upgrades, smart lighting, and Energy Service Companies (ESCOs).

Hydrogen’s role in decarbonizing hard-to-abate industrial sectors and transportation will be covered, alongside Italy’s Hydrogen Valleys, clean technology developments, and e-fuels for road transport. African renewable energy initiatives will be showcased, highlighting the potential of photovoltaic and storage systems to expand access to reliable and sustainable electricity.

Finally, the event will tackle regulations, future scenarios, and investment opportunities, featuring Italy’s first Green Book of Energy Transition and addressing misinformation, myths, and global challenges.

Main Conference Themes

1. Finance as a Driver of the Green Transition:

   Focus on innovative financial tools like Power Purchase Agreements (PPA), green bonds, and participatory financing models to boost renewable energy and energy efficiency investments. Sessions cover financing opportunities, cost-benefit analyses, and risk management.

2. Smart Technologies & Artificial Intelligence:

   Integration of AI, IoT, and smart energy monitoring to enhance facility maintenance, grid management, and sustainability in industrial and residential buildings.

3. Construction Sector & Energy Efficiency:

   Launch of the Energy Sustainability Report in Construction for the first time, in collaboration with FEDERCOSTRUZIONI, emphasizing smart building designs and energy waste reduction.

4. Renewables & Energy Storage:

   Comprehensive coverage of solar, wind, and advanced energy storage, including agri-voltaic applications, offshore wind projects, and grid flexibility in industrial facilities.

5. Hydrogen & Electric Mobility:

   Explore hydrogen’s role in decarbonizing high-emission sectors and the electrification of transport, including EU regulations (AFIR) and charging infrastructure development.

6. Ports as Green Transition Hubs:

   Highlight the strategic role of ports in offshore renewable energy development, emphasizing public-private partnerships and smart infrastructure.

KEY 2026 provides a strategic platform for investors, institutions, and startups to exchange knowledge and explore technological, economic, and environmental opportunities in sustainable energy.